Lambton Wildlife Inc.

Christmas Bird Count 2009
We spoke with Peter Chapman, the compiler of the 2009 Christmas Bird Count for our area. Peter reports that there were no really rare birds. However they had some highlights: 5 Horned Grebes at the Pinery, 2 Black Scoters at Kettle Point, a goodly number of Hawks, a Merlin, 13 Bald Eagles, a Bohemian Waxwing, a Ruffed Grouse, and Eastern Bluebirds. There were fewer of the berry eaters in general. Peter suspects they may have gone somewhere else. Among ordinary finds were lots of Snow Buntings, Starlings, House Sparrows, many Crows (an estimated 12,000 in Chatham, indicating this may be a return of the crow problem in Chatham). Peter would like to thank everyone who participated in the count.

Book Donation / Review
	Lambton Wildlife has generously given one copy of the book "Last Child in the Woods:Saving Our Children From Nature-deficit Disorder" to a science teacher at each of the Lambton County high schools. This is conservation education in action and an important mandate for LWI. Louv's bestselling, award winning book is about why children are not spending much time out of doors and why this is important. He calls this lack of exposure to fresh air, woods and creatures "Nature Deficit Disorder". He claims, sharing extensive research with us, that it causes diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties and higher rates of physical and emotional illness.
He cites the power of the computer with game systems, ipods and other electronic devices to keep children indoors. This in turn causes obesity, dumbing down of imaginitive play and general ignorance of our Natural world. The book raises many other questions of interest to an adult audience, especially those parents and grandparents who have young children in their lives. For another review of this book, please refer to the Jan 09 Earthways.

LWI's Schoolyard Naturalization Project 2009
		Lambton Wildlife's Young Naturalist group, along with schoolchildren and volunteer community members will be planting a Native Butterfly Garden this spring. The garden will be planted at London Road School and will feature an Outdoor classroom surrounded by beautiful butterfly attracting native plants!! Click here to learn more (and to find out how you can be involved!)
Liz Primeau
	Liz Primeau is the author of numerous books on gardening including the best seller Front Yard Gardens: Growing More Than Grass. She is also the founding editor of Canadian Gardening magazine and the former host of Canadian Gardening Television on HGTV. A much in demand speaker on gardening across Canada and the U.S., she is coming to Sarnia's SCITS auditorium, on March 29th at the invitation of Lambton Wildlife Inc.The event which is open to the public, at no charge, will start at 7:30 pm. She has long been a leader of the "turf the turf" movement and will talk about biodiversity and transforming our lawns with plants and shrubs that attract birds and butterflies.Mark your calenders!
A Guide to the Natural Areas of Lambton County
		This guide is intended to be a general introduction to natural areas in Lambton County. It also includes brief descriptions of significant natural areas reasonably close to, but not within, Lambton County. Click here to download it. (pdf - 238 Kb)
There are a Trillium Reasons to Join Us
		Knowledge that your membership is going to the preservation of natural spaces in Lambton County Access to a variety of interesting outdoor and indoor activities Earthways, our newsletter Become a Lambton Wildlife member! Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.